A last-minute try gave the Valke a thrilling 56-52 win against the Griffons, while there were also wins for the SWD Eagles and Leopards in the Currie Cup First Division.
Valke No 8 Friedle Olivier was the hero of the day as his last-minute try gave his team a vital win against the defending champions, in a nail-biting encounter in which a whopping 108 points were scored.
Griffons prop Danie van der Merwe scored a rare hat-trick but it was not enough as Olivier’s second try kept the Valke in a strong position within the First Division.
The Valke are joined by the Leopards as the only unbeaten sides after two rounds of the competition.
The Leopards were dominant from the outset against the Boland Cavaliers, which earned them a convincing 35-12 victory.
Leopards flyhalf Gerhard Nortier scored one of their five tries and kicked four conversions for a personal haul of 13 points.
Meanwhile, the SWD Eagles powered to a 37-22 win over the Border Bulldogs in East London. Braces from wing Marlo Weich and lock Ruben Schoeman, added to a try from Alshaun Bock, were enough to see the men from George home.
The Bulldogs attempted a second-half comeback, with fullback Soso Mqalo scoring two tries, but were unable to undo the damage caused by their porous first-half defence.
First Division Round 2 results:
Griffons (52) – Tries: Danie van der Merwe (3), Cody-Anthony Basson, Shirwin Cupido, Niel Stannard, Rodney Damons, Nkululeko Marwana. Conversions: Duan Pretorius (6).
Valke (56) – Tries: Friedle Olivier (2), Shane Kirkwood, Etienne Taljaard (2), Grant Donavon Janke, Don Mlondobozi, penalty try. Conversions: Anrich Richter (5), Errol Jaggers (2).
Border Bulldogs (22) – Tries: Somila Jho, Soso Mqalo (2).Conversions: Dilolo Mapuko, Aphiwe Stemele. Penalty: Bangi Kobese.
SWD Eagles (37) – Tries: Alshaun Bock, Marlo Weich (2), Ruben Schoeman (2). Conversions: Divan Nel (3). Penalties: Divan Nel (2).
Leopards (35) – Tries: Marius Stander, Gerhard Nortier, Akhona Nela, Bradley Moolman, Jimmy Mpailane. Conversions: Gerhard Nortier (4), DP de Lange.
Boland Cavaliers (12) – Tries: Clemen Lewis, Tapiwa Tsomondo. Conversion: Jacquin Jansen.
Photo: Gordon Arons/Gallo Images
